Monday, 10 April 2017

LaLiga Surpasses €3 Billion Mark Revenues in a Single Season

LaLiga, , the organising body for the top two divisions of Spanish football, has released the latest edition of its Professional Football Financial Report, which shows that its clubs and limited sports companies’ total revenues reached €3.04bn ($3.16bn) for the 2015-16 season.

The figure represents a 15-per-cent increase on the previous campaign and marks the first time LaLiga has broken the €3bn revenue barrier. The figure also represents an increase of almost 50 per cent on five seasons ago.

LaLiga also said that aggregate pre-tax profits for its 42 clubs stood at above €200m for the first time. The figure represents a significant turnaround for clubs, which were recording annual losses of €135.3m as recently as the 2011-12 season.

Broadcasting revenues increased by €270.7m in 2015-16, a 31-per-cent rise compared to the 2014-15 campaign. LaLiga put the increase down to its revamp and reorganisation of the way it sells its broadcast rights. The new collective model was introduced as a move towards more equitable revenue sharing, with clubs having previously marketed their rights on an individual basis.

The report also showed that LaLiga’s matchday revenues rose by 23 per cent to €144m, with rising attendances and Spanish clubs’ performances in European competitions having been cited as a reason for the increase.

LaLiga president Javier Tebas said: “The report points to an increase in revenue, improved performance and a reduction of debt, and confirms that the restructuring process in Spanish football has been brought to fruition.”

Tebas stated that certain clubs in the top two divisions would take a few more seasons to reach a stable financial footing, but said that, on the whole, “the objective has been accomplished”.